Automobile steering-guide.



- G. BUGG. AUTOMOBILE STEERING GUIDE. nrmonron rrnnn an. 6, 1910.

Patented A r. 23, 1912.

ED STATES. PATENT c rries.

CLAUDE BUGG', F CLINTON, KENTUCKY.

AUTOMOBILE STEERING-GUIDE.

To'all whom it may concern "Be'it known t-hat'I, CLAUDE BUGG, a citilzen'of the United States, residing at Clinton, V in'the county of Hickman and State of Ken- S-tucky, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Automobile Steering- Giiides, of which the following is a specifia on: [This invention relates to automobile steer- 10 ing gear, and has for its object to provide a steering guide adapted for use with the usual hand control wheels in general use at this time.

A most important objectis to provide a 1'5," guide attachable to steering gears already in use without modifying their construction, and without changes or modifications in the construction of the steering posts of the 'usual type. A further object of great importance in theart is to provide an indicating device which may be brought into releasable lockingengager ent with the hand wheel when as :1 set' as desired, to hold the course set, against tlie' tendency of the unevenness of the road surface to change it.

" A-further object is to provide such a device which will'not interfere with the griphping of the wheel by the driver, in the ordi- '30 nary-manner, and which willnot interfere withthe manipulation of the usual spark and throttle levers of the various types. lather objects and advantages will be ap parent f'rom the specification and from the drawings, in which j "Figure 1 is a side view of the device attachedto the front side of the steering post; Rig. 2 isia rear view showing it at the rear side, jFigj 3 is a side view of the modificatiohijFig- 4 is a horizontal view of the last form; j

f There is shown in outline a portion of an ,aj tomobile' 10 having the usual tubular post 'II witliin which rotates the steering shaft 12, upon the upper end of which is secured .a

handkwheel comprising the spider 13 carrying'the gripping rim 14. This wheel may ,be called the steering controller. As shown, the ivheel carries the usual indicator segment 1:) and throttle and gasolene levers working thereon. although it will be readily apparent that the device is equally appli- Specifieation of L etters Patent.

I Patented Apr. 2a, 1912.

Application filed September 6, 1910. Serial No. 580,476.

neath the wheel onthe stationary post 11.

Secured to the post 11 a spaced distance cable to machines having these levers liebelow the spider 13 is the present device, comprising the clamping base 17. having j spaced resilient arms 18, the spaces between which are properly 'arcuate or semi-circular and lined with non-abrasive material to allow them to be snugly engaged with posts of various diameters, The extremities of the arms 18 project pastthe post 11 and arev apertured in registration, for the-engagement therethrough of a suitable clamping bolt and nut 19 whereby the device may be securely. clamped in position. The base member 17 is provided with an outwardly tapered arm 20 extending diagonally with respect to the axis of the engaged post 11.

Its upper end portion is curved lnward slightly, so as to project over'the rim 14, its extremity being pointed.

.The device is preferably adjusted with the arm 20 disposed at the'forward' side ofthe hand wheel, where itwill not interfere with z the hands of the driver, as in Fig. 1,"bu't if found desirable, it may be adjusted at.

the inner side as shown in Fi 2.

A segmental dial 21, of suitable'size and having a suitable scale thereon is provided, to be securedupon the rim'14 in such relation 'to' the arm 20 that the'point 22 will indicate zero on the scale when the wheelsof the car are setparallel with the longitudi: nal axis of the'car, or to traverse an exactly straight course As it usually requires less than half a turn of the hand wheel for the maximum movement of the wheelsin either direction when turning and such maximum movement'is but seldom required,

a dial of approximately the size shown in relation with the size ofv the hand whee is sufiicient for practical purposes.

In Figs. 3 and 4 there is shown anelaboration of the device by which the pointer is made to serve the double function of indicating the set of the wheels and locking the wheels releasably for a given course. In this form, which may be found preferable to the simpler one because of the added function,-

there is provided an anchor yoke 25, engaged detachably with the post .11 comprising substantially a split sleeve having its meeting portions continued as two paral lel plates 26 receiving suitable clamping screws 27 therethrough adjacent their bases 1nd having registering grooves'28 extending diagonally outward from the lower edges of the plates which are cut of? in parallel with the grooves. The grooves form a circular passage in which there is slidably disposed the rod 29 having its pointed end curved inward over the adjacent portion of the rim 14: and being broadened adjacent the point and flattened 011 its inner-side to snugly engage against the rim at times with out damage thereto, as will be explained. The plates 26 are provided with diagonal slots 30 opening therethrough into the grooves, and the'rod 29 is pgovided with trunnions 31-projected through the slots. Engaged through opposite sides of the sleeve and serving as an additional means for securing it upon the post 11 are screws 32 supporting pivotally an approximately U- shaped yoke 33, the opposite arms 34 of which are apertured adjacent their inner ends for the reception of the screws 32. The outerend portions of the arms 34" are ,inset close to the plates 26, being provided with longitudinalslots at their ends, receiving the trunnion 31 therein for slidable movement. A stem 35 springs from the bight of the yoke 33 and is provided at its extremity with a transversely extending segmental operating grip 36 disposed in proper spaced relation with the rim 14' to be grasped commonly therewith in the hand of a driver and forced upwardly toward the rim. It may be operated by a pressure of the thumb or engaged by the digits extended through the hand wheel.

It will be seen that a very serviceable and simply constructed attachment is provided.

which may be readily attached to any of the usual types of motor vehicles now in use.

When traversing rough roads where the vibration is severe upon the hands and arms of the driver much of, it may be relieved by the use of the locking device, which is instantly released by the removal of pressure from the grip. In order to entirely free the device from engagement withthe rim 14 when released, a suitable spring may be provided as at 37 or otherwise.

An important feature of the device is that when traveling a rough road and it is desired to lock the wheel, no uncertainty exists as to the direction of the steering wheels when the lock is operated. As it is often utterly impossible for the strongest persons to control the wheel against rotation under the effect of the concussions of the wheels, it is of great service to have the pointer and gripping means operating in conjunction as here, to show when the wheel is engaged in the proper position. i

In the majority of modern automobiles track, in order to avoid theunpleasant vibration and damage to machinery and tires. But it is impossible, with the ordinary hand wheel and no guide, to keep the wheels properly set to remain upon the rails except by constant manipulation, and many personshave not the patience or dexterity to do it. It is usually easy to start a machine on the rails, and with the presentinvention, the wheels may be accurately set and looked to continue on the track when 1 running on a straight course, and by the use of a proper scale on the dial 21 it should be possible to easily turn the front wheels to the proper angle to follow a curve; though there would beat tendency in the rear wheels to pass inwardly of the rails, this being often prevented'in street car tracks by the broad and deep grooved rails used at.such points. i

What is claimed is:

1. Ina controlling device, a revoluble controller wheel, an indicator member adjacent the 'periphery thereof fixed against rotation with the wheel, said wheel having an annular grip portion disposed ad acent.

the indicator and means on the grip portions adapted to cooperate with the indicator to indicate. the action of the wheel, said indicator member beingvmovab le into engagement with the wheel, said grip portion having portions dis osed and adapted to be engaged by the in icator, and means for moving the indicator into engagement with the wheel to hold it. against rotation.

2. A device of the class described comprising a body member adapted-for engagement with the steering post of a motor vehicleand carrying an indicating member thereon adapted to be disposed adjacent the hand wheel, said indicating igemberbelng movable into locking engagement with the wheel at times, and means for moving the indicating member into such engagement, said means including a member adapted to be disposed in'close spaced relation with the hand wheel, movable toward and away from the wheel, and adapted to be grasped with the wheel for the purpose described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a body member adapted for detachthereby for cooperation with the steering controller to indicate the position of the in presence of two witnesses' steering Wheels, and adapted for locking engagement- With the controller at times and a lever carried by the body member anti VVitI ieSses: engaged with and adapted for operation to W. H. VAN HOOK, move the indicator into locking position. THos. EMERSON.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature CLAUDE BUGG. 

